Candle with optical lens insert

ABSTRACT

A candle having an internal formation defining an optical lens to diffuse the candlelight through the body of the candle, and thereby to cause the candle to glow from internal illumination.

[451 Nov. 20, 1973 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Att0mey-Samuel J. Stoll et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A candle having an internal formation defining an optical lens to diffuse the candlelight through the body of the candle, and thereby to cause the candle to glow from internal illumination.

12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Andre Tellier, c/o Sanford Sale Corp., 619 Hudson St., New York, N.Y. 10014 Jan. 12, 1972 211 App]. No.: 217,359

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Umted States Patent [1 1 Tellier CANDLE wi'rn OPTICAL LENS INSERT [76] Inventor:

[22] Filed:

51 Int.

[58] Field of CANDLE WITH OPTICAL LENS INSERT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to ornamental and functional candles.

2. Description of the Prior Art The closest art known to applicant is exemplified by Duncan U.S. Pat. No. 2,584,563, issued on Feb. 5, 1952. This patent shows a display candle in which a deep well is formed as the candle burns and the candlewax is consumed, thereby leaving an external shell that is internally illuminated by the light of the candle. One of the obvious problems with this candle is that it does not function in the manner intended until it is consumed sufficiently to form a deep well, and when this occurs the flame is concealed behind the peripheral wall of the candle. While this will cause the wall to glow by internal illumination, it will prevent the candle from providing direct illumination to its surroundings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is particularly effective when appliedto candles designed for special occasions, for example, a pumpkin-shaped candle for Halloween and Thanksgiving and an egg-shaped candle for Easter.

In the preferred form of the invention, an optical lens is provided in the candle body to diffuse the candlelight therethrough. The optical lens may take different forms. A hollow Cavity in the shape of an optical lens is one form. A cavity in the shape of an optical lens, filled with a candlewax insert which is also in the shape of an optical lens, illustrates another form. Pigments may be used, either in the cavity walls or in the lens insert, to provide a colored glow.

The lens may also perform different functions. For

" example, it may be used to concentrate instead of dif- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a face view of a pumpkin-shaped candle made in accordance with one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a cylindrical candle made in accordance with a second form of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through a rectangular candle made in accordance with a third form of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section through a rectangular can dle made in accordance with a fourth form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to the first form of the invention, it will be seen that candle 10 comprises an upper body section 12, a lower body section 14, a lens 16 between said upper and lower body sections, and a wick 18. The lens is a composite of a lens-shaped cavity 16a and the upper and lower walls 16b and 16c, respectively, which define and form the cavity.

Each candle section is molded of conventional candlewax, preferably clear paraffin wax, with light transmitting characteristics. The two sections are joined by conventional means, namely, melted wax. To insure proper registration of the two sections, posts 20 are formed on one section and corresponding holes 22 are formed in the other section to receive the posts. The post and holes are formed peripherally of the candle in narrow belt portions which encircle the lens.

In the preferred forms of this invention the candle is substantially circular in horizontal cross-section. This is true of candle 10 even though it has a varying diameter. In the illustrated form of the invention candle 10 is pumpkin-shaped for the Halloween and Thanksgiving seasons, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this or any other configuration, except as limited by the appended claims.

It will also be seen that lens 16 is formed centrally of the candle and, as is conventional the wick extends along the central vertical axis of the candle. It is therefore evident that the candle and the lens share a common vertical axis.

When the candle is lit, light rays will pay through the upper candle section and thence through the lens and into the lower candle section. The entire candle glows as though internally illuminated by an inner flame.

Interesting color effects may be produced by pig- I menting cavity walls 16b and or either of them.

This may be done in any conventional way as by applying melted colored wax to the cavity walls.

In the second preferred form of the invention candle 30 is cylindrical in shape and it consists of an upper section 32, a lower section 34, a lens-shaped cavity 36 between said upper and lower sections, a lens-shaped insert 38 within said cavity, and a wick 40 extending through both candle sections, the lens cavity and the lens insert. As is the case with candle l0, wick 40 extends along the common vertical axis of the candle and lens. Posts 42 may be formed on one of the candle sections and holes 44 may be formed in the other candle section to receive said posts to help secure the two sections together. Conventional securing means, such as melted wax, may also be used to attach the sections to each other.

Preferably candle sections 32 and 34 are molded of clear translucent candlewax and lens insert 38 is also molded of translucent candlewax, but not necessarily clear. The lens insert may be made of colored candlewax. It may also be made of candlewax of different density from the candlewax of which the candle sections are made, with different light transmitting and refracting characteristics, depending upon the lighting effects desired.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third form of the invention. Candle 50 is generally rectangular in configuration, both in vertical and horizontal section. It comprises an upper section 52 and a lower section 54 with a lensshaped cavity 56 formed between them. As the drawing clearly shows, the walls of lens-shaped cavity 56 defines a lens with concave faces, as opposed to the lens with convex faces as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Candle 50 is also provided with a conventional wick 58 and with dowel pins 60 for joinder purposes.

FIGS. 9 and illustrate a fourth form of the invention, wherein a candle 70 consists of two vertical sections 72 and 74 instead of the upper and lower sections exemplified by the first three forms of the invention. A lens-shaped cavity 76 is formed between and extending into the two vertical sections and in this instance it will be noted that the upper wall of the lens cavity defines a plane surface while the lower wall is convex. A wick 78 is provided between the two vertical sections and dowel pins 80 are also provided to facilitate joining said sections.

It will be understood that the particular lens design which is embodied in candles made in accordance with this invention is determined by known optical principics, the kind of candlewax used, and the desired lighting effect. As used herein and in the claims, the term candlewax is intended to include all candle-making materials, such as paraffin wax, beeswax, tallow, vegetable waxes and the like and also combinations or blends thereof. Different waxes have different densities and different light-transmitting and refracting properties and will affect the lens design.

It will further be understood taht the foregoing forms of the invention are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention, except as limitations are imposed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A candle comprising:

a. a light-transmitting candlewax body,

b. a wick extending through said body, and

c. an optical lens provided within said body,

(1. the lens axis being substantially vertical, and

e. extending substantially centrally of the candle body.

2. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the wick extends substantially along the vertical axis of the lens.

3. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the lens is shaped to diffuse light received from the candle,

b. whereby the body of the candle is caused to glow from internal illumination. 4. A candle in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the lens is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle.

5. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the candle body is substantially circular in horizontal section, with a central axis which extends substantially vertically,

b. the wick extending vertically through said body substantially along said central axis, and

c. the lens having a substantially vertical axis which coincides, substantially, with the central axis of the candle body.

6. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the candle body comprises an upper section and a lower section which are peripherally joined to each other, and

b. the lens is provided between said upper and lower sections.

7. A candle in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

a. the lens comprises a lens-shaped cavity which is formed between the upper and lower section of the candle body,

b. the upper body section providing the upper wall of said cavity, and

c. the lower body section providing the lower wall of the cavity.

8. A candle in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

at least one of the walls of the cavity is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle when the candle is lit.

9. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the lens comprises a lens-shaped cavity formed within the candle body, and

a lens-shaped candlewax insert occupying said cavity.

10. A candle in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the candlewax of the candle body and the candlewax of the lens-shaped insert have different light transmitting and refracting characteristics.

11. A candle in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the lens-shaped insert is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle when the candle is lit.

12. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a. the candle body comprises a pair of vertical sections which are joined in side-by-side relationship,

b. the lens being provided between and extending into said vertical sections, and

c. the wick extending between said vertical sections. 

1. A candle comprising: a. a light-transmitting candlewax body, b. a wick extending through said body, and c. an optical lens provided within said body, d. the lens axis being substantially vertical, and e. extending substantially centrally of the candle body.
 2. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the wick extends substantially along the vertical axis of the lens.
 3. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. the lens is shaped to diffuse light received from the candle, b. whereby the body of the candle is caused to glow from internal illumination.
 4. A candle in accordance with claim 3, wherein: the lens is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle.
 5. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. the candle body is substantially circular in horizontal section, with a central axis which extends substantially vertically, b. the wick extending vertically through said body substantially along said central axis, and c. the lens having a substantially vertical axis which coincides, substantially, with the central axis of the candle body.
 6. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. the candle body comprises an upper section and a lower section which are peripherally joined to each other, and b. the lens is provided between said upper and lower sections.
 7. A candle in accordance with claim 6, wherein: a. the lens comprises a lens-shaped cavity which is formed between the upper and lower section of the candle body, b. the upper body section providing the upper wall of said cavity, and c. the lower body section providing the lower wall of the cavity.
 8. A candle in accordance with claim 7, wherein: at least one of the walls of the cavity is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle when the candle is lit.
 9. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. the lens comprises a lens-shaped cavity formed within the candle body, and a lens-shaped candlewax insert occupying said cavity.
 10. A candle in accordance with claim 9, wherein: the candlewax of the candle body and the candlewax of the lens-shaped insert have different light transmitting and refracting characteristics.
 11. A candle in accordance with claim 9, wherein: the lens-shaped insert is pigmented to diffuse colored light through the body of the candle when the candle is lit.
 12. A candle in accordance with claim 1, wherein: a. the candle body comprises a pair of vertical sections which are joined in side-by-side relationship, b. the lens being provided between and extending into said vertical sections, and c. the wick extending between said vertical sections. 